Apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ultra-violet rays.



V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & MAVON REGKLINGHAUSEN. APPARATUS FORSTERILIZING LIQUIDS BY MEANS OF ULTRA VIOLET RAYS.

' APPL IOATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910 1,952,818.

- SHEET 1.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS- INVENTORS WITNSSES:

V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON REOKLINGHAUSBN. APPARATYTS FORSTEPILIZING LIQUIDS BY MEANS OF ULTRA VIOLET RAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1916.

Patented Feb. 11

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

run s'rarns ra'rnn'r onrron.

VICTOR HENRI, ANDRE HELBRONNER, AND MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSEN, 0F PARIS,

' FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS BY MEANS OF ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Application filed June 7, 1910. Serial No. 565,610.

In the speclfication filed with our application for Letters Patent'Serial Number 546,252, filed February 26, 1919, we have described aprocess for the sterilization of liquids by means of the action ofultra-violet rays, in which process, where the liquid to be sterilizedpossesses a high degree of opacity to the rays, we arranged that itshall be caused to flow in a thin film in order that all its particlesmay be exposed to the desired influence.

The present invention relates to improved apparatus for use in theprocess above mentioned, and especially to apparatus for pro ducing thinfilms of liquid which may be exposed to the ultra-violet rays from amercury vapor lamp or other suitable source.

We have found that many liquids, milk for example, do not under theaction of gravity alone, form a sufficiently thin film to enable theliquid to be sterilized quickly and thoroughly. According to ourinvention therefore in order to avoid this difficulty and to obtain avery thin film of liquid, weprovide an apparatus in whlch the liquid isacted upon by a force stronger than gravity, and for this purpose weutilize the forces due to surface tension. In making'use ofthese forceswe provide for withdrawing a continuous surface, such as that of aroller or band, from the liquid at a suitable rate, thereby drawing outa film of the liquid over said surface.

In order that the nature of our invention may be clearly understood, wewill now describe the same by the aid of the accompanying drawings whichare diagrams which illustrate, by way ofexample only, various methods ofcarrying out the same in practice.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectional, showing arrangements forobtaining thin films by means of a number of rollers. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing an apparatus with a larger number of rollersarranged in a descending and ascending series. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation illustrating an arrangement for cooling a roller by means of astream of water directed upon its internal periphery. Fig. 4 is a planillustrating another manner of arranging a plurality of rollers forobtaining thin films of liquid. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partlysectional, showing an arrangement of obtaining a thin film of liquid bymeans of an endless band. Fig. 6 is a section on the line AA, Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a section on the line BB, Fig. 5. Fig.

8 is an elevation, partly sectional, illustrating how the thickness ofthe film on a roller may be regulated. Fig. 9 is an elevation, partlysectional, showing a further modified form of the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, the liquid, the level of which is indicated bydotted lines, is delivered from a receptacle 1 through a pipe 2 providedwith a graduating tap 3 into a tank 4; 5' is a roller, the periphery ofwhich dips below the level of the liquid in the tank 4 as shown, andwhich is rotated in the direction of. the arrow. By this means, owing tothe surface tension of the liquid, a thin film of liquid indicated bythe dotted line is spread over the surface of the roller. This isscraped off or collected by a plate 6, which delivers. it on to theperiphery of a second roller 7, or into a tank '8; the second rollerbeing also driven in the direction of the arrow takes along with it athin film of the liquid which is collected by a plate 9 and deliveredinto a tank 10, which is provided with a third roller 11. The film ofthe liquid from this third roller is finally delivered into a spout 12by which it may be taken to receptacles, bottles, or other storagevessels. The film of liquid on the surface of the rollers 5, '7, and 11,is exposed to the ultra-violet rays from a source 13 here indicated bysmall circle which may be taken as a section of a mercury vapor lampwhich is provided with a suitable refiec-; tor 14.

In Fig. 2 in a descending and ascending series, so as to surround thesource of ultraviolet rays indicated at 13. The liquid is delivered,

from the periphery of one rollerdirect on to the periphery of the nextroller in the descending series shown on the left hand side of thefigure. In the ascending series on the right hand side of the figure,the liquidthe rollers are shown arranged is collected from one iollerand delivered into a tank located slightly above which 00- operates withthe next roller in the series.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing how the rollers may be water cooled.The roller is indicated at 15, and is provided with an opening 16 in itsend, through which projects the water supply pipe 17, which deliverswater within the roller. The excess of cooling water escapes by theorifice 16 into the delivery funnel 18 whence it is led to a suitablewaste pipe. surface of which the liquid to be sterilized is passed, maybe arranged in various ways. For example, in Fig. 4 we have shown a setof seven rollers, three of which have their axes at right angles to theother four. The arrows show the direction of movement of the flow ofliquid, and in place of using a brush or plate to scrape the film fromthe surface'of each'roller, adjacent rollers are placed with theirperipheries in contact with each other so that the film is deliveredfrom one roller to the next. In order to utilize as nearly as possibleall the ultra-violet rays emitted by the source 13, this is providedwith a reflector 14 and reflecting surfaces indicated at 19 are arrangedin such a manner as to intercept the ultra-violet rays and reflect themon to the surface of the various rollers.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the arrangement of an endless band for drawin outa film. The band is indicated at 25 being supported on rollers 26, 27 sothat at one part of its passage it is immersed below the surface of theliquid to be sterilized Which is con-v tained in a tank 28. The loop orbight of a the band is maintained in the position shown by guide rollersattached thereto which move within a fixed guide plate as will beunderstood from the sectional view, Fig. 6. The guide plate, which is ofcurved shape, is indicated at 29 and is provided with a central slot 30through which passesfthe supporting arm of a bracket 31 on the ends ofwhich the guide rollers 32 are rotatably mounted; said guide rollersengage with the under surface of the guide plate 29.

,Therollers 26, 27 which support and rotate the band, are each providedwith an annular groove 29 in the periphery for the reception of theguide rollers. A mercuryvapor lamp 18 with a reflector 14 is againindicated as a suitable source of ultra-' violet rays. Other devices maybe employed for guiding the band.

Fig. 8 shows how a scraper, such as a plate 33 may be used to regulatethe thickness of the film taken up by a roller 34.

'In Fig-9 the liquid is delivered from a receptacle 1 through a spout 2directly on to the periphery of the roller 35, on the surface of whichit is spread out in a thin film as indicated by dotted lines, beingcollected The rollers, over the by a delivery plate and pipe 36. In thiscase the rotation of the roller 35 in the direction of the arrowassisted by the force of gravity acting on the liquid, reduces the filmto the desired degree of attenuation.

By our improved apparatus a thin film of even thickness may be easilyobtained,

and a mixture of treated with untreated liquid, or a mixture ofliquidthat has been treated for a long period of time with liquid thathas been only treated for a short time,

can be avoided. Furthermore, the apparatus can be very easilyventilated, that is to-say, any ozone produced can be readily dispersedby means of a suitable fan or otherblowing device located adjacent tothe rollers.

lVe claim as our. invention i 1. In apparatus for sterilizing liquids,the combination of a trough containing the liquid to be sterilized, acontinuous surface located so that a portion thereof dips into theliquid in the trough, means for withdrawing said surface from the liquidso that a thin film is formed thereupon and means for exposing said filmto the action of ultraviolet rays.

2. In apparatus for sterilizing liquids, a trough containing the liquidto be sterilized, a continuous surface located so that a portion thereofdips into the liquid in the trough, means for withdrawing said surfacefrom the liquid so that a thinfilm is formed" thereupon, a source ofultra-violet rays located in proximity to said surface, means forcollecting the sterilized liquid from the moving surface and means fordelivering liquid to said trough at the same rate as that at which it isremoved by said collecting means.

3. In apparatus for sterilizing liquids, the

combination of a trough, containing the liquid to be sterilized, aroller adapted to be rotated and so located with reference to the liquidin the trough that a part of its pe riphery dips below the surface ofthe liquid, a source of ultra-violet rays located in proximity to saidroller and means for collecting the sterilized liquid.

4:. In apparatus for sterilizing liquids, the combination of a troughcontaining 'the liquid to be sterilized, a roller adapted to be rotatedon an axis parallel to the surface of the liquid and so located withreference to the liquid in the trough that a part of its periphery dipsbelow the surface of the liquid, a source of ultra-violet rays locatedin proximity to said roller and means for collecting the sterilizedliquid.

5. In apparatus for sterilizing liquids, the combination of a rolleradapted to be rosterilized from which said roller takes up the liquid, asource of ultra-violet rays located in proximity to said roller andmeans for collecting the sterilized liquid.

,125 tated, a trough containing the liquid to be 6. In apparatus forsterilizing liquids, the subscribed our names this 25 day of Maycombination of a plurality of rollers adapt 1910. ed to be rotated,troughs containing liquid VICTOR HENRI.

into which said rollers dip, a source of ultra- ANDRE HELBRONNER 5violet rays located in proximity to said MAX VON REQKLINGHAUSEN;

rollers and means for delivering and col- Witn lecting said liquid. DEAN3 MASON In testimony whereof we have hereunto JACK K. BAKER.

